Impact Of Job Layoffs On Employees' Mental Health

Mass job layoffs have gravely impacted employees across sectors. In some instances where employees have been given little to no notice, such a sudden change can emotionally affect people’s mental health.

What you need to know:

Job layoff effect on employees

Whether you have recently been laid off or are in an industry witnessing continual job layoffs, the psychological impact caused due to these abrupt changes to your financial stability cannot be overlooked.

This shift can interfere with your stability and financial security.
Loss of employment and income is also often accompanied by a loss of status, routine, and a sense of purpose.
This sudden change can toss your balance and make you experience fear, anxiety, lack of confidence, low self-worth, self-doubt, anger, confusion, and uncertainty.

How to manage job loss stress?

The effects of unemployment on mental and physical health can be severe. Therefore, take careful steps to be mentally and emotionally prepared for such outcomes:

Acknowledge your feelings and understand it is okay to seek professional help to gain confidence and rebuild your life.
Often, job layoffs result from turbulent economic conditions or cost-cutting efforts. When you begin to question yourself, know that job layoffs are not a reflection of your performance or work ethic.
Separate your identity from your workplace. Maintain a work-life balance instead of making work the only priority. If there is anything these layoffs can teach you, work can be terminated at any point. Create regular routines that symbolize the end of work, especially when working from home. This can include meditating for 10 minutes after work, walking around the block, or listening to music.
Instead of beating yourself up, use this time for self-care. It is imperative to diversify your sense of self. Exercise daily to lower your stress levels, consume healthy food, get 7-8 hours of adequate sleep, spend time with your family and friends, and take up any hobby you couldn’t pursue earlier.
Refrain from unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as smoking or drinking alcohol. Try practising mindfulness meditation and yoga to build a fresh perspective on life.
If you are worried about the future of your job or are unhappy with it, tweak your resume, explore other job opportunities, and work up a plan to transition out of your current workplace. Use social media platforms to network and establish contact with people from the same industry as you to build insight. Stay updated and keep your ears to the ground about new job openings. You can also utilize this time to upskill and learn new courses, which can help you land another job.
While you figure this out, don’t hesitate to rely on your family and friends for help or emotional support. Instead of holding your thoughts and feelings in, talk about your concerns with your support network. If the job layoff has taken a mental toll on you, try talking to a therapist.
Being empathetic towards others who have been laid off is also important. Provide them space to go through the different phases of grief and be supportive of them. You can offer practical aid in terms of references or send new opportunities and openings their way.
Try to keep a positive outlook towards life. Observe negative and unhelpful thoughts. Practise self-affirmation and tell yourself – “This too shall pass”. Don’t give up, for a layoff is just a temporary roadblock. When you believe in yourself, you will find new ways to overcome this problem, enabling you to grow and pave the way for a better future.